Lisa Regopoules is particularly well known for her paintings of specific birds, so when the organizers of Pastel Live invited her to demonstrate a still life, she decided that a “non-traditional still life” was the way to go. “I have a copper birdbath in my garden that has a wonderful patina from years of weather,” she says. “It has lovely light and shadow in the water and is perfect to show how to loosely apply the pastel using broken color to create a painterly pastel. The focal point of the birdbath is a sculpture of a hummingbird perched on two sticks. I currently have a series of snowy owls and plover chicks that I am very well known for, so I thought this would be perfect.”

This will be Lisa’s first stint on the faculty of Pastel Live, a two-day online immersion in instruction from masters of the medium including major luminaries in the field. It’s coming up fast – September 17-19, 2025. Get all details on the event website.

After racking up numerous awards and feature articles in pastel publications during several years of teaching and consistently showing up at the easel, Lisa’s career is taking off. “The past couple of years have really been amazing,” she notes, “and I have seen so many of my long-term goals reached, especially being on the Faculty for Art School Live, Pastel Live, and Painting and Barging in France.” 

Lisa is getting ready for the opening of her first solo museum show later this month, when “Serenade – a Symphony in Pastels” opens at the Trustees of Reservations, Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, MA with a recepion on Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 1-3 p.m.

For Lisa, traveling across the U.S. and abroad and meeting other artists has been a major bonus, she says. “I have met so many artists that I now consider friends and they are located in many different states across the USA.”

Lisa Regopoules, “My Favorite Posy,” pastel, available as a Fine Art Giclee print.

Her secret? For one thing, “I have consistently shown up at my easel and put the mileage in,” she says. “I have had many successes and not so great outcomes along the way, it’s all part of the process. It’s so nice when all that you have worked towards begins to come together!”

For another thing, Lisa learned early in her journey that creating pastels is most importantly a creative outlet for herself, “If I am happy with it, that’s all that matters,” she says. “I never tell myself, ‘this piece is for a specific show.’ At this point in my career, my pastel painting will give me a feeling while I am working on it, so I know it’s a special one to sell or to enter in a competitive show. Having thick skin and learning to critique my own work has been crucial for advancing over the years. The rejections are all part of the game, and for me, encourages me to keep persevering.” 

“Teaching Pastel also makes you a better painter. People all learn differently, so figuring out ways to get the message across makes you much better at doing it yourself,” she says. “Thinking of different ways of working can trigger an “aha” moment. I’ve also learned so much from my students.” 

Lisa Regopoules, “Fragile Promise,” pastel 14.75 x 14.75 in.

It’s the feel and versatility of pastels that she loves most about the medium. “The general public has no idea what pastel is and most of the time say, ‘she’s using chalk!’,” she says. “I tell them that it’s pure pigment held together with a binder. I love the forgiving nature of pastel. If you make a mistake, a dry brush takes most of the pigment off and you’re able to correct it. I also enjoy the tactile nature of pastel, being able to hold it in my hand and apply it broadly. I like the feeling of the pastel gripping the sanded paper.”

Still, it’s plein air work that fuels her passion. A native of Massachusetts, the self-confessed “plein air enthusiast” can be found painting during “all the seasons whether it’s on the coast, conservation land, or gardens, you’ll find me there. I also have a studio at my home for times that the New England weather doesn’t cooperate for plein air work. I rely on my plein air work more than a photo when sizing up to a large studio piece.”  

“Plein air painting inspires me most,” she reports. “Unlike a lot of people, I thrive on change. Nothing is ever the same when you are painting outdoors, even if you are painting at the same location. Light, shadow, weather, etc., change in an instant. There’s also an energy that I feel when I am plein air painting which I do not feel in my studio. 

Lisa Regopoules, “Sleeping and Waking,” pastel, 9 x 13 in.

“I do prefer to capture subject matter with amazing light or dappled shadows. Different weather conditions are exciting to me too and capture my interest for painting references. Rocky cliffs, wind and churned up water are thrilling to me, so ocean, waterfalls, and turbulent water are great subjects for me. Specific birds are captivating to me as well, especially snowy owls and plover chicks and they are found along the coast, so if I don’t catch a glimpse of these specific birds, the ocean, dunes, etc. are always available for reference. 

“The most important advice I would give any aspiring artist is to show up consistently at their easel! Designate time for experimentation and play and don’t make your painting precious. When an artist considers their piece a masterpiece from the beginning, they are afraid to make a bold change or a mistake. It also leaves room for overworking.”

Lisa belongs to numerous artist associations, including IAPS-MC (International Association of Pastel Societies Master Circle Member), American Impressionist Society, Central MA Pastel Society, and Signature Member of the Pastel Society of NH and also Pastel Society of Maine. She is a past Vice President of the Pastel Society of NH and served on the board for years, soliciting awards, etc., for their annual national juried show. 

She teaches workshops at the Springfield Museums during the fall, winter and spring as well as on Zoom and in-person for Pastel Societies across the country. A few times per year she teaches at Thorn Hill Gallery.

Lisa is a racer and a climber, literally. “Readers might be surprised to know,” she says, “that I used to downhill ski race and was also a rock climber.” But considering her combination of enthusiasm, drive, and determination, perhaps that’s not that so surprising after all. 

Lisa Regopoules, “The Next Generation,” pastel on paper, 8 x in.

 

Pastel Live

Pastel Live is three days of premium art instruction from 20+ of the world’s best acrylic artists, something you can’t get in one place anywhere else. These artists will help you drastically improve your skills by demonstrating the methods and techniques that have taken them years to master. They share some of the key insights that have allowed them to rise to the top, garner respect and recognition, and build successful art careers. Pastel Live encompasses it all — from expert art instruction to career-level strategies and advice. Sign up now at Pastellive.com!.

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